CPU
GPU
Xeon Gold 6138
Xeon W-1390
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon Gold 6138
Performance Per Dollar Xeon W-1390
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6138 | Xeon W-1390 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($300) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Skylake (server) (2017−2018) / 14 nm) | ✨ Modern (Rocket Lake-S (2021) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon Gold 6138 | Xeon W-1390 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+34%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($300) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($400) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Path of Exile 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon Gold 6138 and Xeon W-1390
Xeon Gold 6138
The Xeon Gold 6138 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 25 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture. It features 20 cores and 40 threads. Base frequency is 2 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 27.5 MB. L2 cache: 20 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA3647. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 24,108 points. Launch price was $2,612.
Xeon W-1390
The Xeon W-1390 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 6 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Rocket Lake-S (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1200. Thermal design power (TDP): 80 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 23,902 points. Launch price was $494.
Processing Power
The Xeon Gold 6138 packs 20 cores / 40 threads, while the Xeon W-1390 offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Xeon Gold 6138 has 12 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.7 GHz on the Xeon Gold 6138 versus 5.1 GHz on the Xeon W-1390 — a 31.8% clock advantage for the Xeon W-1390 (base: 2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Xeon Gold 6138 uses the Skylake (server) (2017−2018) architecture (14 nm), while the Xeon W-1390 uses Rocket Lake-S (2021) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon Gold 6138 scores 24,108 against the Xeon W-1390's 23,902 — a 0.9% lead for the Xeon Gold 6138. L3 cache: 27.5 MB on the Xeon Gold 6138 vs 16 MB (total) on the Xeon W-1390.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138 | Xeon W-1390 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 20 / 40+150% | 8 / 16 |
| Boost Clock | 3.7 GHz | 5.1 GHz+38% |
| Base Clock | 2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+40% |
| L3 Cache | 27.5 MB+72% | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 20 MB+3900% | 512 kB (per core) |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Skylake (server) (2017−2018) | Rocket Lake-S (2021) |
| PassMark | 24,108 | 23,902 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,261 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 15,439 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon Gold 6138 uses the LGA3647 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon W-1390 uses LGA1200 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138 | Xeon W-1390 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA3647 | LGA1200 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0+33% |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2666 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 768 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 6 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 48 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Xeon Gold 6138) / not specified (Xeon W-1390). Primary use case: Xeon Gold 6138 targets Server.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138 | Xeon W-1390 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | — |
| IGPU Model | None | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | Yes | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x, VT-d | — |
| Target Use | Server | — |
Value Analysis
The Xeon Gold 6138 launched at $2612 MSRP, while the Xeon W-1390 debuted at $494. At current prices ($300 vs $400), the Xeon Gold 6138 is $100 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon Gold 6138 delivers 80.4 pts/$ vs 59.8 pts/$ for the Xeon W-1390 — making the Xeon Gold 6138 the 29.4% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon Gold 6138 | Xeon W-1390 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $2612 | $494-81% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $300-25% | $400 |
| Performance per Dollar | 80.4+34% | 59.8 |
| Release Date | 2017 | 2021 |
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